Paternity Attorney Tulsar
Becoming a parent is one of the most important events in a person’s life. Because of your emotional and biological connection, it might seem unthinkable that the child will not always be considered yours, no matter the circumstances. Unfortunately, this is not always that case. In many situations, paternity may have to be established. The experienced Oklahoma family law attorneys at the Law Offices of Greg Lavender routinely assist families dealing with paternity matters.
Paternity is the legal relationship between father and child. While the identity of the mother is clear, the identity of the child’s father may be unknown. If one or both of the parties are unsure about the father’s identity, a DNA test should be done. DNA tests, administered using a cheek swab, are noninvasive and 99.9 percent accurate.
Parents should establish paternity for a variety of reasons. A parent is only assigned parental rights if deemed to be the legal parent of a child.
What You Need To Know
Sole custody is awarded by default to the mother of any child born outside of marriage in the state of Oklahoma but this can be changed through paternity proceedings. While being considered the legal parent of a child does not automatically entitle a person to custody and visitation, it does give that individual the right to request they be awarded custody or visitation in a legal proceeding. Establishing a parental relationship will also allow the child to be entitled to any benefits he or she might receive from the father, such as health care and disability payments, as well as the right to inherit from the father. It is also beneficial for a child to know the medical history of both parents.
If a child is born to a married couple, the state of Oklahoma automatically assumes that the husband is the child’s legal father. If a child is born out of wedlock, however, the parents must attest to paternity. In order to establish paternity in these situations, the parents can complete a form known as an Acknowledgement of Paternity at the hospital after the child is born. An Acknowledgement of Paternity should not be completed unless the parties are sure of paternity. If an Acknowledgement of Paternity is not completed at the hospital at the time of birth, it can be done at a later date. Paternity can also be established via a legal action for child support or a private legal action relating specifically to paternity.
A striking 40 percent of children are born out of wedlock in the United States each year. This means that a huge number of fathers in Oklahoma require verification of their rights and responsibilities when it comes to children born outside of a marriage. If you are a parent and are concerned about establishing a paternal relationship you should contact the experts. Our attorneys can assist families in executing an Acknowledgement of Paternity in a child support action or in a private suit to establish paternity.
